FILE - In this Oct. 5, 1982, file photo, California Angels' Don Baylor swings away during the sixth inning in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, in Anaheim, Calif. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman. (AP Photo/File) ORG XMIT: NY161 less

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 1982, file photo, California Angels' Don Baylor swings away during the sixth inning in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, in Anaheim, Calif. ... more

Photo: Anonymous

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FILE - In this April 23, 2015, file photo, Los Angeles Angels' Don Baylor poses for a photo before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, in Anaheim, Calif. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman.(AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File) ORG XMIT: NY155 less

FILE - In this April 23, 2015, file photo, Los Angeles Angels' Don Baylor poses for a photo before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, in Anaheim, Calif. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the ... more

Photo: Alex Gallardo

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FILE - In this Oct. 5, 1979, file photo, California Angels' Don Baylor, left, gets a handshake from teammate Rod Carew (29) after hitting a home run in the fourth inning of Game 3 of the American League playoffs against the Baltimore Orioles, in Anaheim, Calif. Baltimore catcher Dave Skaggs is at center. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman. (AP Photo/File) ORG XMIT: NY162 less

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 1979, file photo, California Angels' Don Baylor, left, gets a handshake from teammate Rod Carew (29) after hitting a home run in the fourth inning of Game 3 of the American League ... more

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 1987, file photo, St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog, right, congratulates Minnesota Twins Don Baylor, center, and Kent Hrbek, left, after the Twins won the World Series, in Minneapolis. ... more

Photo: James A. Finley

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FILE - In this Oct. 28, 1992, file photo, Don Baylor is all smiles as he answers questions after being named the first manager of the Colorado Rockies baseball club, in Denver. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) ORG XMIT: NY157 less

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 1992, file photo, Don Baylor is all smiles as he answers questions after being named the first manager of the Colorado Rockies baseball club, in Denver. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with ... more

Photo: David Zalubowski

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FILE - In this Oct. 9, 1982, file photo, California Angels' Don Baylor hits a grand slam against the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Milwaukee. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman. (AP Photo/ John Swart) ORG XMIT: NY160 less

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 1982, file photo, California Angels' Don Baylor hits a grand slam against the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Milwaukee. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the ... more

Photo: John Swart

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FILE - In this Aug. 13, 1977, file photo, New York Yankees' Willie Randolph falls on top of the California Angels' Don Baylor after throwing to first base to complete a double play, at Yankee Stadium in New York. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine, File) ORG XMIT: NY159 less

FILE - In this Aug. 13, 1977, file photo, New York Yankees' Willie Randolph falls on top of the California Angels' Don Baylor after throwing to first base to complete a double play, at Yankee Stadium in New ... more

Photo: Ray Stubblebine

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FILE - These are file photos showing Arizona Diamondbacks batting coach Don Baylor in 2013, left, and Chicago Cubs manager Don Baylor in 2001. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman.(AP Photo/File) ORG XMIT: NY158 less

FILE - These are file photos showing Arizona Diamondbacks batting coach Don Baylor in 2013, left, and Chicago Cubs manager Don Baylor in 2001. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on ... more

Photo: AP

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FILE - AUGUST 7: It was reported that former baseball player and manager Don Baylor died Monday after a long battle with multiple myeloma. 2 Apr 2001: A close up of Manager Don Baylor #25 of the Chicago Cubs as he listens to the National Anthem before the game against the Montreal Expos at Wrigley Field's Opening Day in Chicago, Illinois. The Expos defeated the Cubs 5-4.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport ORG XMIT: 175309080 less

FILE - AUGUST 7: It was reported that former baseball player and manager Don Baylor died Monday after a long battle with multiple myeloma. 2 Apr 2001: A close up of Manager Don Baylor #25 of the Chicago Cubs ... more

Photo: Jonathan Daniel

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Baylor succumbs to cancer at 68

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Don Baylor, the burly slugger who once held the Major League Baseball record for being hit a pitch and later guided the expansion Colorado Rockies to the playoffs for the first time as manager of the year, died Monday of cancer. He was 68.

The 1979 American League MVP died in his hometown of Austin, Texas, after a 14-year battle with multiple myeloma, Baylor's family said in a statement released by the Angels, the franchise for which he played more than 800 games.

"Don passed from this earth with the same fierce dignity with which he played the game and lived his life," Baylor's wife, Rebecca, said.

Baylor played in all 162 games for the California Angels in 1979 and led the majors with career bests of 139 RBIs and 120 runs. He also had career highs in homers (36) and hits (186) for the American League West champs, who lost to Baltimore in the AL championship series.

When the stocky Baylor retired, he had been hit by pitches a then-record 267 times, and led the majors in that category seven times.

He was also known for speed as a younger player, including a career-high 52 steals with Oakland in 1976, and was a bruising baserunner who loved to break up double plays. He finished with 285 steals.

In his final three seasons, Baylor went to three straight World Series from 1986-88, winning the title and hitting one of his four postseason homers in Minnesota's seven-game victory against St. Louis in 1987. He was on losing teams with Boston in '86 and Oakland in '88.

"Don used power and speed to earn American League MVP honors with the Angels in 1979 and contributed to three straight pennant winners in a great 19-year major league career," commissioner Rob Manfred said.

Baylor was the first manager for the Rockies, leading them to his only playoff appearance as a manager in the franchise's third season in 1995. Colorado lost to Atlanta in four games in an NL Division Series.

Baylor spent six years with Colorado and two-plus seasons as manager of the Chicago Cubs, from 2000-02. His career record was 627-689.

Baylor had at least 20 homers in three straight seasons for the New York Yankees before hitting 31 for the Red Sox in 1986. He was a career .260 hitter with 338 homers and 1,276 RBIs.